Nigerian-American Actor Obi Ndefo Dies at 51, Years After Losing Both Legs in Hit-and-Run Crash
Obi Ndefo, a Nigerian-American actor known for his roles in “Dawson’s Creek” and “Stargate SG-1,” has passed away at the age of 51. His death comes years after he tragically lost both of his legs in a hit-and-run crash.
The cause of Ndefo’s death remains unknown, but his sister, Nkem Ndefo, and several co-stars confirmed his passing on social media. “Heartbroken at the loss of my younger brother and knowing he’s finally at peace,” Nkem wrote on Facebook.
Ndefo, a Yale graduate, played Bodie Wells, the brother-in-law of Katie Holmes’ character, on “Dawson’s Creek” from 1998 to 2002. He also appeared in “Stargate SG-1” from 2000 to 2005, along with guest roles in “The West Wing,” “NYPD Blue,” “Crossing Jordan,” and “The District.”
Mary-Margaret Humes, who portrayed Gale Leery on “Dawson’s Creek,” shared her grief on Instagram, expressing her deep sadness at Ndefo’s passing. “It’s hard for me to conceive that you have left us, my dear friend. You always were and always will be a bright shining light,” she wrote. “What an example of pure unfiltered love and tenacity you set as you faced life’s challenges.”
Ndefo’s death follows the life-altering incident in August 2019 when he was struck by an SUV while packing groceries into his car in Los Angeles. The accident resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. Despite the severity of his injuries, Ndefo maintained a resilient spirit. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he reflected on his experience, saying, “How do you know how you would handle this? … And anyway, what’s the alternative? … This is just so horrendous what happened to me, why would I compound this by feeling bad about it?”
He added, “There is no other choice for me. So there’s a sort of rigour to me, and I think, ‘OK my legs are severed. I don’t know how to do this, but I know how to do this.’”